5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
Join us on a 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes!
Note: Our5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes may be booked here.
Table of contents:
Departure location:
Marrakech
Return location:
Fes
Departure time:
08:00 AM
Itinerary duration
5 days/ 4 nights
5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes overview:
Join us on a 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes and take in the stunning vistas of Morocco’s most popular destinations. In general, we journey through the High Atlas Mountains and Ait Benhaddou on our first day before arriving in Ouarzazate, where we will spend the night. Second, on the second day, we’ll drive you to the desert, which is the highlight of every vacation to Morocco. The third day will be dedicated to touring the desert and meeting Nomad Berbers. On the fourth day, though, we will go to Midelt through a different route. Finally, on the final day, we will drive you to Meknes before returning to Fes, where our vacation will conclude.
Highlights of our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes:
- Enjoy the scenery as you drive into the High Atlas Mountains and across the Tizi-n-Tichka pass.
- Exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ait Ben Haddou and Telouet Kasbahs
- Visiting the wonderfully renovated Kasbah Amredhil and strolling through the palm groves of the Skoura Oasis
- Off-roading across the Valley of the Roses and the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs
- Hiking with a local guide through the Toudgha Gorges and the Dades Valley, or walking along the river
- In the Erg Chebbi dunes, spending lovely nights in a luxurious desert camp
- Sharing nights of Berber singing and drumming with nomads around a fire camp
- Taking pictures while riding a camel at sunset in the Erg Chebbi Dunes and sporting blue turbans
- A full day of camel trekking in Merzouga or a half-day 4×4 excursion across the dunes
- Near Ifrane, I was driving over the Middle Atlas Mountains and saw Barbary monkeys in the cedar woodlands.
Itinerary of 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Boumalne Dades
The first day of your 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes starts with a pick-up from our Marrakech meeting location. We’ll start by crossing the Tizi Ntichka pass, which is 2260 meters high and 200 kilometers long. We’ll stop by the cooperative argan oil for a break and to observe how they make argan oil for cosmetics. Following that, we’ll go to the kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, passing by a number of other kasbahs along the way, including Telouet.
Ait Benhaddou, a Unesco world heritage site, is well-known across the globe and has long been a popular tourist and filmmaking destination. The excursion will next continue to Morocco’s Hollywood, where we will see the Atlas Studios, where they make movies and hire the necessary equipment. Many films have been filmed in the Ouarzazate region, including the popular Game of Thrones and Prison Break series. We will continue our journey to Dades Gorges, where we will spend the night, after eating lunch in this city.
Day 2: Dades Valley- Todra Gorges- Merzouga:
Today is the first day of our 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes, which will include a visit to the desert. Before reaching the first site, Todra Gorges, we will first drive through some of the magnificent valleys along the road. We’d stay here for a time to explore the region and take a stroll in the famed Todra Canyons. With canyons that exceed 300 meters in height, it is considered one of Morocco’s top climbing and photography sites. We will also travel through little Berber settlements and halt for lunch in Tinghir or Tinjedad.
We’ll depart for our final destination after finishing our supper. The Merzouga desert is often regarded as the high point of any Morocco visit. The desert excursion will often begin with a camel ride through the golden dunes. We will, however, stop along the route to take in the scenery and watch the sunset. Finally, we’ll arrive at our desert-based Nomadic camp. We’ll begin the evening with a typical Moroccan supper. After that, our group will light a fire and perform drums beneath the bright skies.
Day 3: Merzouga Desert Tours and Camel Trekking Trip
A trek into the desert will be the third day of our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes. Typically, desert trips begin with a visit to the Nomads, Morocco’s indigenous people. You will learn about the actual Moroccan way of life from these individuals. That is to say, the Berber Nomads continue to preserve the country’s ancient customs and culture. After spending some time with the Nomads, we will go to Glb Nass (literally “people’s heart”), where we will halt for a panoramic view of the Sahara sands. The next stop is the kohl mine at M’Ifiss, which was once owned and utilized by the French colonial empire.
After that, we’ll go to Khamlia for lunch and to see the Gnawa people. People from Mali and Gabon, for example, make up the majority of them. They made Morocco their home and settled in a variety of locations, including the hamlet we are visiting. You’ll be able to listen to their music and observe their distinctive movements. Finally, the remainder of the day will be spent touring additional locations, such as the Hassi Labied Oases.
Day 4: Merzouga desert to Midelt:
We will depart after breakfast at your desert lodge and go to Midelt. To begin, we’ll journey to Rissani, where we’ll visit one of Morocco’s largest traditional marketplaces. Second, we’ll visit Erfoud, where we’ll participate in various fossil workshops. You will get the opportunity to view a variety of fossils discovered in the region. After that, we’ll go to Ziz Valley, Morocco’s largest date-producing region.
After that, we’ll drive across the Ait Chakr mountain and stop at one of Morocco’s greatest panoramic viewpoints, where you can see the Ziz valley’s hundreds of palm palms from the top. Following that, we’ll continue on to Midelt. The dam of Errachidia is the next stop on the journey. The government has designated a location to provide national water to the residents in the region. Finally, we’ll arrive in Midelt for the night, capping up the fourth day of your 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes.
Day 5: Midelt to Fes:
We will depart after breakfast at your desert lodge and go to Midelt. To begin, we’ll journey to Rissani, where we’ll visit one of Morocco’s largest traditional marketplaces. Second, we’ll visit Erfoud, where we’ll participate in various fossil workshops. You will get the opportunity to view a variety of fossils discovered in the region. After that, we’ll go to Ziz Valley, Morocco’s largest date-producing region.
After that, we’ll drive across the Ait Chakr mountain and stop at one of Morocco’s greatest panoramic viewpoints, where you can see the Ziz valley’s hundreds of palm palms from the top. Following that, we’ll continue on to Midelt. The dam of Errachidia is the next stop on the journey. The government has designated a location to provide national water to the residents in the region. Finally, we’ll arrive in Midelt for the night, capping up the fourth day of your 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes.
Tour includes:
- Pick-up and drop-off at/from your accommodation
- Transport in a private, air-conditioned car.
- Driver/Guide who is fluent in English
- Fuel for cars
- 1-night stay at a hotel/riad in a private room (At your preferred room type).
- Trekking with camels (Camel per person).
- Camel riding at sunset.
- (Breakfast & Dinner) x 2 in the Desert Camp (At your choice tent type)
- Transfer from and to the camp in a 4x4 vehicle (Alternative to Camels).
Tour excludes:
- Monuments fees
- Lunches
- Tips
- Soft drinks
Testimonials:
Book your 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes!
To book our 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes, please include the tour name in the subject area. Also, if the schedule we recommended does not meet all of your requirements, please let us know and we will respond within 24 hours.
Related Morocco tours:
We have created several trip itineraries from Fes, including Moroccan desert tours. However, if the plans shown here do not meet your requirements, please fill out our contact form.
Highlights overview:
The 5-days tour from Marrakech to Fes through Merzouga is jam-packed with breathtaking attractions. As a consequence, we’d like to give you a general idea of what you’ll see and do throughout your journey with us.
Merzouga is a desert in Morocco:
The Merzouga desert has played a significant role in Moroccan tourism and economy in recent years. It became a must-see and most-visited attraction in Morocco because of its stunning golden sand dunes. Although it is located in the extreme southeast of Morocco and is just about 50 kilometers from Algeria, it is not an isolated location. Tourists go for days to spend the night in tents with Berbers. Some people drive themselves to the desert across considerable distances. Others arrange trips to see a variety of other locations along the route to the desert. Above all, the Merzouga desert and the activities it provides are often regarded as the highlight of all Morocco excursions.
Merzouga was named after a Merzoug family that used to dwell in the region. Tourists are the primary and most important source of revenue for the area. However, there are certain locations where agriculture is the primary source of income.
Merzouga’s desert, known as Erg Chebbi, stretches for 30 kilometers from Tighmert to Khamlia. However, if you go far enough towards Rmlia and Jdaid, you will come across several additional deserts. The most well-known is the Znigui desert, which attracts roughly 10% of Merzouga visitors.
The camel rides and glamping amid the dunes are what make the Merzouga desert renowned. Aside from the stunning sunsets and sunrises.
Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou:
We will visit the medieval stronghold of Ait Benhaddou during our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes. It is located on the tip of the High Atlas Mountains, some 30 kilometers from Ouarzazate. In 1987, Unesco designated this walled town as a world-historic site.
Ait Benhaddou is a true living masterpiece that exemplifies Moroccan architecture at its best. What makes it even more remarkable is that it was constructed by Berbers with an Arabic influence. It has massive towers and walls that were built primarily as defensive castles. Its towers boast one-of-a-kind ornamentation made entirely of Moroccan clay art.
It is said to have been erected in the 11th century by Thami el Glaoui, a member of one of Morocco’s wealthiest families. Despite the fact that its occupants have departed and emigrated to other areas, it has remained standing for generations. Only around 40 households remain now, but they do not dwell in the main village; instead, they live on the opposite side of the river. Their major source of revenue comes from tourists that visit the region since the location attracts a large number of visitors each year, totaling more than 130 thousand.
This location is not just a tourist attraction, but also a filming location for filmmakers and producers. Consider the films Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia, among others. The kindness of the residents of this hamlet, as well as Moroccans in general, is undoubtedly what draws more visitors from inside and beyond Morocco.
Ouarzazate:
The Sahara Desert’s entrance gate is a must-see site. The 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes will take you via the beautiful city of Ouarzazate. It’s one of Morocco’s most significant locations since it has an international airport, making it convenient for most tourists who like desert vacations. Ouarzazate, which possesses the world’s largest solar power plant, may be the most significant city in terms of solar energy. This latter is only available to the public while filming movies and television shows, for which this city is highly renowned.
It’s roughly midway between Merzouga and the Sahara desert. As a consequence, it is one of the most important sites for most travelers. Its name, which is originally Berber, means “quiet city” or “quiet location.” It does not make a lot of noise, yet it is well-known all around the globe.
The Atlas Studios are the most popular tourist attraction. You will notice that there are two Atlas Studios when you visit this city. On the one hand, there is the Oscar Studio, which is the most popular. It’s approximately 5 kilometers from the city’s center, on the northwest corner. This is a spot with incredible vistas of magnificent designs that will transport you back in time. The CLA Atlas Studio, on the other hand, is a little farther away than the Oscar studios. In fact, despite being the city’s oldest studio, it is seldom visited by visitors.
Above all, Ouarzazate isn’t simply a tourist attraction; it’s also a great location for filming TV shows and movies. There’s the sixth season of Prison Break, for example.
The trip through the desert.
On the third day of our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes itinerary, you will see a variety of places. The desert trip will show you how Moroccan Berbers live in the desert and give you the opportunity to live and experience it.
To begin, we normally embark on an excursion to see the Berber Nomads. These individuals are still living in tents and leading basic lives. In recent years, the majority of the people who live in Merzouga and neighboring communities in the vicinity were nomads. To put it another way, all of Merzouga’s residents were formerly nomads who lived in tents before constructing a home and settling down. These nomads we’ll meet earn their income by raising their herds and selling them in old souks like Rissani and Erfoud. Clearly, what makes these people worth seeing is that they have maintained the basic and authentic lifestyle of desert nomads and Berber nomads, who are recognized for their warmth and generosity.
Second, the desert journey gives you the opportunity to meet the Gnawa people. As is well known, these individuals came from a variety of nations, including Niger, Gabon, and Mali. Those who reside in Khamlia, around 4 kilometers from Merzouga’s town, have become Berbers and speak Tamazight. They assimilated into Berber society and became an integral part of Merzouga. As they grew in popularity, they erected a mansion called Dar Gnaoua, where they gathered to perform music and put on events. Many visitors and Moroccans from the surrounding region visit to enjoy the distinct culture.
In addition, this excursion includes a visit to the Moroccan National Automobile Museum.
Valleys:
You will travel through many different stunning valleys along most of the highways that we journey over on this 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes itinerary. The scenic and attractive vistas are the one thing they all have in common. Because some are more significant and significant than others, we will discuss them in order of importance.
The Draa or Dra valley, for example, is situated in the southeast corner of the High Atlas mountains. With a length of roughly 1,100 kilometers, it is Morocco’s longest river and valley. It is undeniably home to large palm and olive plantations. The towns of Agdz and Ouarzazate are the principal beneficiaries of this valley and its products. However, many Berber settlements near this river profit from the latter, and it is their only source of income.
Second, there’s the Ziz valley, which produces the majority of the country’s dates. It is situated halfway between Erfoud and Errachidia. The city of Erfoud has a festival every year to commemorate this valley and its dates.
Between Marrakech and Merzouga, the majority of the other major valleys are found. The first is the Ounila valley, which runs directly in front of Ait Benhaddou’s stronghold. This area is known as the Oued El Maleh, which translates to the “salty river.” It got its name from the fact that it used to be a salt-selling location. Second, there’s the Rose Valley, which is noted for its cosmetics. Finally, there are several tiny valleys in Boumalne, such as Dades.
Rissani and Erfoud
There are numerous cities in Morocco, particularly in the southeast, that have played a significant role in the country’s history. Rissani and Erfoud are perhaps two of the most prominent desert towns in the nation, which you will see during your 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes.
Rissani:
For starters, there’s Rissani, which serves as the Tafilalt region’s capital. In Berber, the term Tafilalt refers to a jug. It is also known as Sijilmassa, and it was the principal halt for caravans traveling from Niger to Morocco’s northwestern coast. As a consequence, it became well-known and prospered for centuries. This city was, in fact, the birthplace of the present royal family and the Alaouiet dynasty.
Tafilalt is one of Morocco’s largest Oases, with one of the largest palm orchards. In addition, Rissani is home to the largest traditional Souk in the Southeast, if not the whole nation. People there employ conventional methods of transferring and transporting products in order to sell them. Citizens and merchants still rely on donkeys and horses for transportation. Rissani provides significant amounts of dates for Morocco and contributes to the development of the desert region in several ways.
People assemble in this traditional spunk every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday since these are the only days when there are larger souks and more items on display for the public. The majority of the purchases are from Rissani or Erfoud, indicating that this city is busy.
Erfoud:
On the other side, there’s Erfoud, a lovely city around 50 kilometers from the Merzouga desert. It is the home and primary source of fossils in the Southeast, with local workshops producing various types of fossils all year. In addition, Erfoud has an annual festival to commemorate and display many dates. This celebration isn’t only for Moroccan dates; it attracts visitors from all around the world.
Ifrane and the woodland of cedars:
We will stop at both the cedar forest and Ifrane on our 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes.
The city of Ifrane, sometimes known as the “Little Moroccan Switzerland,” is the first stop. It is situated in the Middle Atlas Mountains, which have one of the greatest temperatures and weather in the world. Ifrane is a Berber word that means caverns. It is known as Morocco’s Switzerland because it is Africa’s cleanest city and the sixth cleanest in the world.
Clearly, what makes it more well-known is that it is a great place to go skiing. Every winter, it attracts a large number of visitors from both within and outside the nation. In addition, Al Akhawayn, one of Morocco’s premier universities, is located in Ifrane. This latter is a popular tourist site not just for Moroccans but also for visitors from other countries. It is also home to the Atlas lion statue, which is the city’s most popular tourist attraction. According to legend, a German prisoner erected this in an attempt to gain his release.
Another place you’ll travel by on your trip to Fes is the Cedar Forest. It’s also known as Gouraud Forest, and it’s close to the city of Azrou. Many creatures that are now extinct formerly called this location home. The Barbary macaque is now the sole thing that people go to see.